Synopsis:
This sequel to 101 Dalmatians takes place almost immediately where the first film left off. The family is preparing to move to a house in the country and start their “Dalmatian Plantation”. As the family prepares to leave, Pongo does his best to keep count of the puppies. However, in all the rush little Pongo feels lost in the crowd. He longs to be a unique individual like his TV idol Thunderbolt (the equivalent of Lassie or Rin Tin Tin). When he’s accidentally left behind in the move, he begins to feel that his worst fears are coming true.

Fortunately, Patch discovers that Thunderbolt is in town on a talent search. Patch meets up with his hero who is also in a bind. Fearing that he’s about to be fired, Thunderbolt decides he needs to do a public act of heroism to get good press and save his job. Patch and Thunderbolt then go on patrol in London looking for trouble. Little do they realize that trouble will find them. Cruella de Vil has been released from jail on parole and renews her quest for a Dalmatian fur coat. It’s up to Patch and Thunderbolt to save the day!

The Movie:
For a straight-to-video Disney cartoon sequel, this one isn’t too bad. The film is much faster paced and funnier than its predecessor. This time Patch and a group of new characters take center stage. While the puppies were mainly background characters before, Patch really stands out and becomes a fun starring character. He goes on the classic hero’s journey and rises from just another face in the crowd to the one that saves the day.

Barry Bostwick is fun as Thunderbolt. Arrogant, bold, and a little dim-witted, he adds significantly more humor than was in the first film. Jason Alexander is the voice of Lightning, his sidekick. While he isn’t quite as funny as I’d hoped, he does have a few humorous scenes towards the end when his true nature is revealed. Martin Short is the voice of a beatnik artist named Lars who Cruella becomes infatuated with. Again, he has a few fun scenes, but he’s never quite as funny as you might expect.

The movie looks fantastic on DVD. The picture is sharp and clear and the colors are incredibly bright. The animation really stands out in this presentation. The few songs in the movie also sound pretty good on a home theater system.

Overall, this is a fun movie to sit down and watch with your kids. You won’t be driven insane and if you enjoyed the first film as a kid, you’ll probably enjoy the sequel.

The Extras:
This film has a few extras worth mention, but they are all geared more towards children:

Behind the Scenes “Dog-umentary” – This 7 minute documentary briefly gives you a glimpse behind the scenes of the making of the film. The directors, apparently hopped up on caffeine and sugar, enthusiastically give a pack of dogs a tour of the animation studio. They see the story pitch, the dialogue recording, animation, and more. You get glimpses of Martin Short, Jason Alexander, Barry Bostwick, and others in action. It’s fairly interesting, but more geared for the kids than adults.

Lost In London Game – The premise of this game is that the Dalmatian puppies have been kidnapped and you must find them at landmarks throughout London. You must answer trivia questions about the landmarks to win the game and find the puppies. After you answer each question, a brief video of the landmark is shown. Young kids won’t have a clue how to answer questions about Buckingham Palace, but parents can sit down with them and help them through it.

Thunderbolt: An Inside Look – This extra lets you explore Thunderbolt’s trailer. You can read his letters, see his merchandise commercials, or look at his photos. You can even turn the lights on and off and look for change in the seat cushions. There’s not much to this, but children may get a kick out of it.

“Try Again” Music Video by Will Young – This is a fun song with a catchy tune. However, Will Young has a bit of a lisp that becomes even more apparent when watching the video. It’s a bit distracting.

“You’re The One” Music Video by LMNT – This is a toe-tapping hip-hop song. However, I don’t remember hearing it in the movie. Oh, well.

The Bottom Line:
Children will love “101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure” and adults won’t be driven insane by multiple viewings of it. Feel free to add it to your collection.